Why is my cat itching on flea meds? Best food for skin & coat?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My brothers says his cat itches a lot but says he doesn’t think it’s fleas because he uses flea medicine. He is also lookin for a better brand of food or somthing to make her skin and coat healthy and shiny .. why do you think she’s itching and what do you recommend food wise or anything ??
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 16th, 2017
Thanks for visiting Petcoach! Not every flea product is effective, so I would still not rule out fleas if they are using a product not veterinary approved (many over the counter products are not effective). Food allergies are very rare and even rarer in cas; however you can recommend a high quality food for overall healthy haircoat and skin such as Royal Canin skin support, Royal Canin Ultamino or Evo (Innova). Oral pet formulated fish oils from your local pet store are most helpful with skin issues because they are a natural anti-inflammatory. I would recommend visiting your local vet for effective medications to calm the itch. There also may be an actual skin condition that would require specific treatment to cure. If everything checks out then a short course of allergy medication may resolve the itch. Here is a website link with more helpful general tips on itchy skin care. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=599 Good luck to your brother and his kitty. Take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 12th, 2017
That is all you can at home besides a weekly to twice a week bath in a medicated shampoo. I would make sure you are on a good flea preventative and that a flea allergy is not a possibility. Environmental allergens may also be making this worse and they do have prescription medicine to help the itch that your vet can get you
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, my name is Heather I am currently having an issue with my cat. I believe it is a skin related issue because this all started after my cat got fleas. We went to the vet and got treatment and he has been flea free for the past five months but he
What a handsome boy! There's a few things you may try. To absolutely make sure fleas are not the cause (remember, if you have a pet who is sensitive, tit only takes 1 flea to cause a reaction), talk with your veterinarian about using an oral flea prevention called Comfortis. Try this for 2-3 months and see if it helps. Kahlua looks a little heavy, sometimes this can prevent them from being able to clean the lower back/around the tail. Weight loss will allow him to adequately clean that area and in the mean time, shampooing the area every 4-5 days or using a dry shampoo and a brush every 3-4 days will help to decrease the oil production and decrease itchiness. Continue using a fish oil though I prefer an omega 3 fatty acids supplement. Changing the food to Royal Canin may also help improve the skin quality. Allergies can also cause itchiness but I recommend to rule out the fleas first. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a blond Mini Daschund 8 yrs old. She is always scratching herself. We have her on Hills Science Diet Small Breed Weight Control Small Bites. She has no fleas or parasites. Could it be her food and what kind would you suggest. When she scratche
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). The Royal canin ultamino is great for food allergies. If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 month old puppy has flea control medication for puppies applied, however is still itchy & I can see that she's irritated due to itching. Could this be an allergy or dry skin? Should I give her a skin & coat vitamin? If so, which is recommended f
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It could even be due to mites. This is something that is typically differentiated based on an exam and basic diagnostics. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. The main way to help with the itching is by treating any possible secondary infection and addressing the allergies. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and c
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat keep itching and his fur keeps coming of i cant pay 300 to invetget so please could u give a solution
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Aller
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have two dogs that go outside. They are treated by a vet and have no fleas. My 2 cats already had fleas, which I have treated for many months with Advantage II. Did not help cats. One of my cats has flaking skin and sores and the other is not as ba
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor kitties! Flea allergy can be so stressful to deal with. The main thing is getting rid of fleas effectively as that is the inciting cause driving the itchiness resulting in scratching and self-traumatic lesions like that. If she is already on a flea preventative right at this time, then you could consider switching to a different product. There are many great product in the market such as Frontline and Bravecto, among others. Also, you can use a product called Capstar which can help a lot of fleas at once and that can be administered along with other flea medications. Also, it is important to vacuum the house and all things that have contact with them frequently. Try this for 1-3 months and if does not make a difference, they may have another type of allergy such as a food allergy or environmental allergy. As for the wounds, try to keep the areas clean and have them evaluated by your veterinarian to start them on antibiotics. Good luck and thanks
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
hello our 13 year old cat started biting his back just bellow the neck couple of weeks ago. he has now a bald patch and has been given steroids and surolan which he has been on since last friday but no improvement. could you please advice what i can
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Aller
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat won't stop scratching and itching around her head/neck area. The vet put flea medicine on her two days ago but she's STILL itching. She also wheezes/snores in her sleep.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergi
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog won't stop itching I've tried dawn dish soap flea meds I'm bout to cry
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely due to allergies and until these are improved, he will continue to itch. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental al
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Lovebug is dealing with allergies right now. She is eating chicken based foods and I don't know if it's the chicken or another ingredient in the food that is making her neck face and lower back itchy. Its hard to find a turkey KITTEN food anywhere th
This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Having said that, in terms of diets, exclusion diets are probably the best way to rule out certain allergens (what triggers the allergic reaction). Exclusion diets are made with one source of proteins (turkey, venison, salmon etc etc) and one of
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My persian cat have an allergy. He scraths and lick and lost almost all his hair. I think may may its the food. He do not have fleasf He is an indoor cat He is is 3march one year old. IIgiveI him royal canin exigent mix with hair and skin food.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Aller
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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